The rise of ISIS and their brutal acts of terror have been a horrifying development in the past year. And yet within in the Middle Eastern artistic community, an unlikely group of voices has begun to stand up to try and combat’s the group’s message of fear and intolerance: comedians.

Two Lebanese sisters have been interviewing accused terrorists in Lebanon’s Roumieh prison. They hope to understand what pushes people to become holy warriors. And they have found a common theme among the men —absent or abusive dads.

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11/28/2014 - 4:00pm

Sabah, a trailblazing Lebanese singer and actress, died at her home in Beirut this week at the age of 87. The Arabs aroung the world are mourning her loss, including Arab Americans whose families treasured Sabah as a reminder of home.

Rainey’s parents came to Lebanon from Sri Lanka 20 years ago to get away from their country’s civil war. In fact, Lebanon has become something of a haven for a quarter million migrant workers from Asia and Africa, who tend to be employed as maids, trash collectors, and gas station attendants. They come to escape economic and political hardship back home.

Ryan and Noor are best friends. In Lebanon, they are an unlikely match. Ryan belongs to a religious sect called the Druze, and Noor is a Sunni Muslim. With the way things are in this country, kids from different religious groups do not normally hang out, let alone become inseparable friends.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms are one potential treatment for depression. Another is hip hop music — it seems the dark lyrics might reach those who feel equally hopeless. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to the rescue of China's first lady and his gallant act gets erased by Chinese censors. And in Pakistan, a group of schools hold an "I am not Malala" Day. All that and more in today's Global Scan.

Inside Syria, almost six million children have been affected by the country's ongoing civil war, and millions more have fled the country to find safety in refugee camps. Turkey, for example, has opened its doors to about a million-and-a-half Syrian refugees since spring 2011. But as the war drags on, Turkey is finding itself with a long-term humanitarian and education problem.

Ryan and Noor are best friends. In Lebanon, they are an unlikely match. Ryan belongs to a religious sect called the Druze, and Noor is a Sunni Muslim. Wednesday, Noor joins us in on Facebook to answer your questions about her work imagining a better future for her country.

As the Syrian government continues its siege of its own communities, more Syrian soldiers are choosing to desert the Army and head for the only place they feel safe: in Lebanon. From there, some are joining the Free Syrian Army, a shadowy group that tries to protect Syrian protesters.

Ryan and Noor are best friends. In Lebanon, they are an unlikely match. Ryan belongs to a religious sect called the Druze, and Noor is a Sunni Muslim. Wednesday, Noor joins us in on Facebook to answer your questions about her work imagining a better future for her country.

Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon were dying of unnatural causes at a rate of one per week, according to one report. Most of the deaths were attributed to suicide — many of the victims falling from buildings apparently trying to escape their employers.